Let me tell you, folks, this is no fluke. This isn’t due to any fault or flaw in the game itself. This is a truly remarkable and historic win for New Zealand over India, a team deemed nearly unbeatable in home conditions, even for a single match.
But here, New Zealand has comprehensively outplayed the Indian cricket team, dominating all aspects of the game within three days to win an unforgettable Test match. With this victory in Pune, New Zealand made history as the second team in 12 years to beat India in a home Test series. And what a match it was.
Let’s talk about Mitchell Santner. Absolutely extraordinary. Everything he touched turned to gold: his 33 runs in the first innings, six wickets in the second innings, seven in the third, and that run-out of Pant. It was a performance where he showcased intellect, skill, and absolute commitment in all forms of the game.
This is a real confidence-shaker for India, who have looked lackluster throughout. India won only one session in this entire game, and in the previous one, they managed just two. There’s an old saying in cricket: you can lose a Test match in a session, but you cannot win it.
And India’s powerhouse batting unit proved ineffective. Traditionally, it’s India’s bowling that wins them Tests at home, but this recent obsession with batting depth and scoring quickly has shifted the focus away from what worked for decades. And this time, even their batting failed; they couldn’t surpass New Zealand’s innings total in either of their own.
Now, consider New Zealand’s side. Only two players, Tom Latham and Tim Southee, have more than 30 caps in Test cricket. Meanwhile, the Indian team has players like Rohit Sharma, with over 60 Tests, and veterans like Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, and Virat Kohli, each with more than 100.
But that experience did not translate into a cohesive performance to give India even a chance at victory. India looked demoralized and, frankly, never appeared to be playing to win. Rohit Sharma’s captaincy was concerning—he didn’t seem fully engaged, more relaxed than resolute.
Having fun is part of the game, but that doesn’t mean letting things slide when they go against you. Rohit dropped a catch in the slips, and Rishabh Pant, India’s first-choice wicketkeeper, dropped four.
Such lapses raise serious questions. India needs to rediscover a sense of purpose and seriousness; there is too much celebration before real achievements.
Look at New Zealand: they were without Kane Williamson, yet players like Glenn Phillips and Mitchell Santner, who have limited experience in India, rose to the occasion.
It was a complete team effort, with strong fielding, effective communication, and outstanding leadership from Tom Latham. He’s calm yet determined, never letting emotions get the better of him. His resourceful use of bowlers—like having Santner keep bowling through injury—showed both resilience and strategic intelligence.
Latham’s 85 runs in the third innings weren’t just for personal achievement; every shot had purpose, aimed toward winning the game for his team. His reverse sweeps, consistency, commitment, and trust in his defense demonstrated a selflessness that some Indian players could learn from.
This contrasts with a growing concern among Indian players, who seem overly focused on personal achievements and trophies, like the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. New Zealand didn’t bring superstars; they brought committed cricketers.
Even Santner’s Instagram bio humorously calls him a “part-time cricketer, full-time golfer,” yet his commitment on the field was unmatched. You either give your all or you don’t do it.
Yashasvi Jaiswal deserves credit; he has shown immense talent, and we’ll see more from him in the future. But other batters, despite years on these pitches, looked utterly outplayed by Santner.
So, let’s give New Zealand their due credit. They are an outstanding team. Having recently lost a series 2-0, they turned it around to defeat India in India, on a spin-friendly track. This victory will be cherished by New Zealand fans for yearsto come.
